The Fighting Ground: List 3

by Avi
In this historical novel, thirteen-year-old Jonathan defies his father's wishes and joins the fight for American independence.

This list covers April 3, 1778: 3:50–5:40.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5

Here are links to our lists for other works by Avi: Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Nothing but the Truth
35 words 49 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. wisp
    a thin tuft, piece, or amount of something
    He was much younger than the others, with a thin, blond wisp of mustache.
  2. stifle
    smother or suppress
    Trying to stifle his cries, Jonathan looked up.
  3. tentative
    hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
    Jonathan pushed himself to his feet, then took a tentative step toward the one who had been speaking to him.
  4. aloft
    high up in or into the air
    The tall one stepped on the gun Jonathan had left. With a cry, he snatched it up and held it triumphantly aloft.
  5. baffled
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    Baffled, Jonathan kept studying their faces, trying to find some clue to their words.
  6. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
    “Dreh dich um!” the Hessian repeated, clearly exasperated.
  7. rekindle
    arouse again
    Jonathan tried to rekindle his hatred, but all he could muster was the desire to stand close to them, to be taken care of.
  8. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    Jonathan tried to rekindle his hatred, but all he could muster was the desire to stand close to them, to be taken care of.
  9. obliterate
    do away with completely, without leaving a trace
    The sound of the beating rain filled Jonathan with sorrow. The wash of water seemed to obliterate him.
  10. torrential
    relating to or resulting from the action of a downpour
    Though the torrential rains slackened off and the darkness lightened, a steady drizzle continued.
  11. slacken
    become slow or slower
    Though the torrential rains slackened off and the darkness lightened, a steady drizzle continued.
  12. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
    The tall one looked menacing because of his giant size and his scar.
  13. taper
    diminish gradually
    But they were ignoring him completely, silently watching the rain as it continued to taper off.
  14. sheen
    the visual property of something that shines
    The grass underfoot, the branches, the bark, the leaves, all held a soaking sheen.
  15. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    They talked very little now, but it was clear to Jonathan from their cautious looking around that they were wary, and not at all sure of where they were going, or what they might meet.
  16. taut
    pulled or drawn tight
    But when the older soldier did not stop, the suddenly taut rope made Jonathan slip and fall into the mud.
  17. scant
    less than the correct or legal or full amount
    The old soldier, rope in hand, was paying scant attention.
  18. perplexed
    full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
    He could see that he was puzzled, worried. The others acted just as perplexed.
  19. resistance
    the action of opposing something that you disagree with
    Jonathan, chilled and damp, made no resistance to the chafing rope.
  20. chafe
    become or make sore by or as if by rubbing
    Jonathan, chilled and damp, made no resistance to the chafing rope.
  21. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
    “Doch, da war was!” said the tall one with indignation.
  22. plaintive
    expressing sorrow
    From somewhere they could hear the lowing call of a cow. At once they stopped. It was a plaintive sound, like a signal of distress.
  23. affix
    attach to
    To his pack he affixed Jonathan’s gun so it was secure and out of the way.
  24. entangle
    cause to twist together or be caught in a snarled mass
    Jonathan attempted to follow, only to become entangled in the rope.
  25. distracted
    having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety
    The old one, seeing what was happening, glared at the young soldier, but then turned back across the field, distracted, when the cow bleated again.
  26. bleat
    cry plaintively like a sheep or goat
    The old one, seeing what was happening, glared at the young soldier, but then turned back across the field, distracted, when the cow bleated again.
  27. clod
    a compact mass
    Swedish style, it was made of logs, chinked with decaying clay, and clogged with clods of moss.
  28. impassive
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    He looked at the young soldier, but he was impassive.
  29. timid
    showing fear and lack of courage
    Nervously, Jonathan knocked timidly on the door.
  30. hearth
    a built-in space in a wall where a fire can be built
    It was a one-room house with a dirt floor, one oil-papered window, and a hearth at the far side.
  31. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
    It was a poor house, a meager house with the look of having been quickly abandoned.
  32. curt
    speaking in a terse, rude, or abrupt way
    The tall soldier spoke curtly. To Jonathan they all seemed angry, frustrated.
  33. quizzically
    in a questioning manner
    The young soldier looked at him quizzically, until, with sudden comprehension, he laughed.
  34. comprehension
    an ability to understand the meaning of something
    The young soldier looked at him quizzically, until, with sudden comprehension, he laughed.
  35. camaraderie
    the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
    The wink made Jonathan grin, and filled him with a sense of camaraderie.
Created on Sun Jan 20 17:07:01 EST 2019 (updated Tue Feb 12 10:41:10 EST 2019)

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